Trump revokes security clearances for Harris, Clinton, and critics
US President Donald Trump has revoked security clearances for his former Democratic election rivals, Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, along with several former officials and critics.
Trump had previously announced in February that he was revoking the security clearance of his predecessor, Joe Biden. His latest order confirmed that decision and extended it to “any other member” of the Biden family.
“I have determined that it is no longer in the national interest for the following individuals to access classified information,” Trump’s memorandum stated.
The order directed department and agency leaders to revoke unescorted access to secure US government facilities for the affected individuals. It specifically prohibited them from receiving classified briefings, such as the President’s Daily Brief, and from accessing classified intelligence materials.
For many of those named, the revocation is largely symbolic, limiting their access to secure government buildings and sensitive materials. However, for lawyers and prosecutors included in the order, it could present legal challenges in reviewing case materials.
Trump’s revocation list includes key Biden administration officials such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
He also removed security clearances for two former officials from his first term—Fiona Hill and Alexander Vindman—who testified against him during his 2019 impeachment trial.
High-profile Republican critics, including former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, were also stripped of security access. Both lawmakers had been vocal opponents of Trump and played key roles in the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Trump additionally targeted legal opponents, revoking clearances for New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, both of whom have pursued legal cases against him. His order also affected Norm Eisen, a lawyer involved in lawsuits against the Trump administration, and Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor who investigated Trump during his first term.
Whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid was also named in the order. However, Zaid stated that despite being informed of his clearance revocation three times, he had yet to receive formal notice.
Some of the individuals affected dismissed Trump’s move. “I don’t care what noises Donald Trump makes about a security clearance that hasn’t been active for five years,” Vindman wrote on X.
Eisen similarly responded, saying the order “just makes me file even more lawsuits!”
This is not the first time Trump has taken such action. He previously revoked the security clearances of over four dozen former intelligence officials, accusing them—without evidence—of meddling in the 2020 election in Biden’s favor.
Trump’s latest move follows his earlier announcement that he was revoking Biden’s security access, citing a precedent Biden set in 2021 when he barred Trump from intelligence briefings due to his “erratic behavior.”
A 2024 Justice Department report found that Biden had improperly retained classified documents from his vice presidency but had cooperated with investigators. Meanwhile, Trump faced his own legal battles over classified documents, with a 2023 indictment accusing him of mishandling them. However, the case was dismissed in July 2024, and the special prosecutor officially dropped the charges in December after Trump’s re-election.
Credit: BBC
